Propeller.



PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

O. 0. GILBERT. PROPELLER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. 1904.

Elnuowtov Wu "wow No. 875,799. PATENTED JAN. 7 1908. 0. 0. GILBERT.

PRO PELLER.

APIYLICATION FILED rm. 8. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' anuowtoz OSCAR O. GILBERT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

Application filed February 8. 1904. Serial No. 192.657.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR O. GILBERT, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to produce an apparatus adapted tobe employed in connection with movable bodies for propelling the same,and which is especially applicable to vehicles designed for aerialnavigation; and which may also be employed in manufacturing or otherestablishments for creating air blasts.

Said invention will be first fully described, and the novel featuresthereof then pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device; Fig. 2 a central verticalsectional view thereof; .Fig. 3 a horizontal sectional view on thedotted line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a plan view of the bearing for thepropeller blades; Fig. 5 a central vertical sectional view thereof Fig.6 a perspective view of the framework of the propelling blades; and Fig.7 a perspective View of the sl aft couplings which I employ.

This apparatus as illustrated contemplates its employment in connectionwith craft designed for aerial navigation; and although but a limitednumber of sets of propelling blades are shown, it will be understoodthat as many may be employed as may be found desirable.

The structure as a whole is supported in an appropriate body for thereception of an operator, to which body is secured suitable standards,as 10. The main casing 11 which .contains the motors, or other drivingmeans, is pivotally mounted, by suitable trunnions, in an annular collar12, which collar in turn is pivotally mounted in said standards 10.Collar 12 is provided at opposite sides with segmental toothed members13, 14, the teeth of which member 14L engage with and are operated by apinion 15 provided with a crank 16 by which the collar 12 is tiltedbackward and forward. The member 13 engages with the pinion 17 securedto standard 10, and is provided with a locking device 18, so that whenthe collar 12 is operated by the crank 16, the same may be held in thedesired position by said locking device. The two members 13 and 14 areconnected by the segmental rack-bar 19 which engages with the tail endof the casing 11, having mounted therein a pinion 2(1 operated by thecrank 21, the pinion 2() engaging with the rack bar 19 whereby lateralmovement is imparted to casing 11. l

The casing 11 is adapted to contain suitable driving mechanism fordriving the shafts 2.1, 22, 2, and is provided with a suitable door Afor access to said driving mechanism. The main shaft 21 is prox ided atits upper end with a cap-piece 24, and surrounding said shaft is acasing 25 bearing a grooved driving drum 26 carrying an annular toothedgearing 27 on its upper side. This casing is surrounded by ball bearingrevoluble collars, 28, 29, which collars or hearings, in connection withcap 24, serve to hold and support the various parts 23, 29, and 30,which constitute the-upper framework of the structure. As will beobserved, .l provide ball bearings (I, for the collars, etc., by whichfriction is reduced to a minimum. The lower end of said casing 25 isprovided with the integral collar 32, nesting in the upper portion ofthe casing 11. The part 33 of said casing 25 is in the form of a drivinggear, which meshes with gear 34 on the upper end of shaft 22.

Surrounding casing 25 is a gear wheel 35 which meshes with gear 36 onthe upper end of shaft 23, which shaft is supported in a suit ablebearingsecured to the casing 11. Shafts 38 pass through supportingbearings in gear 35, and are provided at their lower ends with smallmiter gears 39 meshing with the gearing 40 on casing 25. These shaftsextend at an angle through gear 35 and the upper framework, and aresupported thereby, and at their upper ends carry the fans composed ofthe blades 41, and the mechanism in which they are supported, saidshafts being providcd with gear -12 meshing with the gear 43 on the endsof shafts 4.4.which are supported in the framework and provided withgear 45 at the opposite end which meshes with wheel 27 on the drivingdrum.

Shafts 38, for purposes of assemblage with the framework, are preferablyof two pieces, the meeting ends whereof are provided with through themembers 60 of the blade frame a simple and efficient coupling 90, 91,(Fig. 7 E the members 90 containing socket 92 to rel ceive the. end 91which is provided with stop collar 93, which enables these parts to beproperly positioned so that the holes 94, 95, l therein registerwitheach other to receive a l suitable pin for securing the couplingto-l gether, as will be readily understood. This coupling also enablesme to disconnect the 1 lower portions of these shafts if desired. 1 henthis is done, as will be readily under- 1 stood, the power for drivingthe upper por l tion of these shafts will be transmitted I throughshafts 44.

The various members composing the framework are suitably constructed andattached, and I'have illustrated portions 50 thereof as extending belowand beyond the parts which support the fan carrying shafts 38, whichportions 50 terminate in suitable bearings 51 to support the shafts 52carrying p the spools 53 which operate the fan blades l 54; the powerfor driving said blades being l transmitted by the endless ropes 55wound about the grooved driving drum 26 and running around the spools 53on shaft 52. l

I do not wish to be understood as limiting l myself to the exactconstruction of framework illustrated, nor the location of the fansexactly as set forth, for, as will be apparent,. if desired, 1 maydispense with. the use of the structure 50 and the portions of the frameWork supporting said structure, or may locate these blade structures atdifferent parts of the framework. It will also be under- I stood that ina propeller of this'class an orbital motion is given to its severalindividual propellers or fans by an axle rotating a frame whichcarriesseveral individual propellers or fans, each having two or more blades,and each individual propeller or fan having a rotary motion, the sameprimary power which creates this orbital motion also producing a rotarymotion of the individual blade or fan structures; and, therefore, thisdual motion 1 of the mechanism arranged as described de I velops ahighly effective resistance from the air which will produce a levitatingand driving power, increased or decreased according to the rapidity ofthese dual motions.

The propelling blades of my device, as shown in Fig. 6, are composed ofthe substantially U-shaped main frame 60, terminating in the shank 61having its end bent so as to form the right angle member 62, by whichthe blade structure is adjustably positioned in the housing 63, as shownin Fig. 5. Curved and straight ribs 64 and 65 preferably pass work andare braced together by the parts 66. To this framework 1 secure fabricor other suitable material, which structure as a whole constitutes myimproved blade. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, these blades are ad-.employed with aerial housings, may

justably secured in the housing 63, the ends of members 62 being seatedin and their ends projecting through slotted openings 67 in housing 63.Cap 68, containingperforations 69, is placed thereover, whichperforations receive the projecting ends of members 62, said cap beingmovably held in position by screw 70. Several blades being mountedineach housing uniformity of position of each is maintained by thesimple mechanism mentioned, for, as will be readily understood, theturning of one blade will cause the cap-piece to slightly turn, throwingall of the blades uniformly and simultaneously in the direc tion of itstravel.

In the operation of this apparatus when craft, it will be understoodthat, its base portion being pivotally mounted as shown, when tipped. toany desired position, the bed containing the operator is maintained inhorizontal position. By roperly manipulating crank 21 the lower end ofthe casing is caused to travel laterally across bar 19, the upper framestructure tipping in the opposite direction the trunnions 80 mounted incollar 12, maintaining said casing in steady position; said trunnionsand collar being provided with apertures to receive electric, compressedair, or other conductors, 100, connecting with the driving mechanism inthe interior of casing 11. The structure as a whole can also be tiltedforward and backward by manipulation of crank 16. By this arrangement ofmount-' ing the casing it, together with the parts carstructure isrotating about the casing 25,

the endless ropes running around drum 26 and around spools 53, causerapid revolution of blades 54. Whenever altered rotary motion of theindividual fans or propellers, represented by blades 41 and 54 withtheir be desired without altering the orbital motion of said fans ascontrolled by main shaft 21, such altered rotary motion may be had byplacing in action the power driving the driving shaft 22 with gearing34, 33, and casing 25. As will be understood, if casing 25 is rotatedreversely to main shaft '21 the rotary motion of the individual fanswill be accelerated, and if conversely this motion will be decreased.The rotation of the structure carried by shaft 21 may be assisted by theoperation of shaft 23 through mg aerial craft these propeller structurescan be attached by suitable couplings fore and aft 01' other desiredlocation; or they may be housed in such craft to be released therefromby suitable mechanism, all as will be readily understood.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a propeller, the combination, with suitable supporting means, acollar pivotally mounted therein, segmental members at opposite sides ofsaid collar, means for shifting said segmental members and thus tiltingsaid propeller back and forth, a rack-bar supported by said members, acasing pivotally mounted in said collar the lower end of said casingengaging with said rack-bar. and actuating means engaging the lower endof said casing and said rack-bar for moving said lower end along saidbar and thus tilting the propeller laterally.

2. A propeller comprising a main casing propeller blades supported bysaid casing, driving mechanism therein, a collar, said casing beingpivotally mounted in said collar and said collar being mounted insfandards, the lower end of said casing engaging Wltll a rack-bar, meansfor conduciing the lower end of said casing across said llltk-llitl',and means for tilting said casing backward and forward, as set forth.

3. In a propeller, the combination, with a suitable support, of a collarpivof'ally connected tl'ierewith, segmental toothed members on oppositesides of said collar and connected. therewith, a rack-bar connectingsaid members, an inclosing casing for driving mechanism pivotaliymounted in said. collar the lower end of which casing engages saidrack-bar, a driving shaft mounted in and extending through saidcasii'ig, means for driving said shaft, a cap at the upper end of saidshaft, a tubular casing surrounding said shaft, collars surrounding saidcasing, a framework supported by said cap and said collars, and bladesoperably mounted in said framework, all substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. In a propeller, the combination with a suitable support, of a collarpivotally conneeted therewith, segmental toothed members on oppositesides of said collar and connected therewith, a rack-bar connecting saidl l l t members, an inclosing casing for driving mechanism pi'volallymounted in said collar the lower end of which casing engages saidrack-bar, a driving shaft mounted in and extending through said lasing,means for driving said shaft, a cap at the upper end of said shaft, atubular casing surrounding said shaft, collars su'rrouiulingsaid casing,a framework supported by said cap and said collars, blades operablymounted in said framework, a gear as 33 and a supporting collar as 32secured to said casing and said co lar engaging said inclosing casing,and a driving shaft as 22 provided with a gear 34 meshing with gear 33,for the purpose set forth.

5. In a propeller, the combination, of a suitable support, a rack-bar, apivotally mounted collar, a casing pivotally mounted in said collar andengaging with said rackbar, means for moving the. lower end of saidcasing along said rack-bar, driving means in said casing, a main drivingshaft. connected to said driving means and extending through saidcasing, a cap on said shaft, a casing surrounding said shaft, aframework carrying a plurality of propelling blades supported by saidcap and said last mentioned casing, a gear 33 on said casing, and adrive shaft 22 provided with gear 34' meshing with said gear 33,substantially as set forth.

6. In a propeller, the combination of a suitable support, a rack-bar, apivotally mounted collar, a casing piwitally mounted in said collar andengaging with said rack bar, means for moving the lower end of saidcasing along said bar, motors in said casing, a main driving shaftsupported in and extending through said casing, a cap on said shaft, acasing surrouinling said shaft, a

framework carrying a plurality of propelling blades supported by saidcap and said last mentioned casing, a gear wheel as 35 surrounding saidcasing, a shaft 23 having a gear 36 thereon engaging said gear-wheel, agear 33 on said casing, and a drive shaft 22 provided with a gear 34-engaging with said last mentioned gear, substantially as set forth.

7. In a propeller, the combination of a motor containing casing, adriving shaft supported in and extending therethrough, a cap on theupper end of said shaft, a framework connected to said cap, a series ofblades operably connected to said framework, a casing surrounding saidshaft, and a gear wheel 35 surromnling the casing for transmittingmotion to the blades, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a pro peller, the combination of a motor containing casing, adriving shaft supported in and extending therethrough, a cap on theupper end of said shaft, a casing surrounding said shaft, a gearsurrounding said casing, a shaft 23 supported in said casing and havinga gear at its upper end meshing with said first-mentioned clined shaftsextending through the first mentioned gear and the upper part of theframework, and gear carried by said shafts, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a propeller, the combination of a motor containing casing, drivingmechanism inclosed by said casing, a driving shaft operably connectedwith said driving mechanism and extending through said casing, a cap onthe upper end of said shaft, a casing surrounding said shaft, a gear 35surrounding 'said casing, bearings provided in said gear,

. cap on said driving shaft, a blade supporting framework connected tosaid cap, an auxiliary driving shaft 22 operably connected with saidtubular casing, said auxiliary shaft rotating said tubular casing in adirection opposite to that of said main driving shaft for the purposeset forth.

11. In a propeller, the combination of driving mechanism, a main'driving shaft connected therewith, a cap on the upper end of said shaft,a framework carrying blades connected to said cap, a casing surroundingsaid shaft, a driving drum on the upper end of said casing, powertransmitters communicating motion from said drum to the outer sets ofblades on said framework, an annular toothed wheel on said drum, shafts44: having a gearing meshing with said toothed wheel said shafts beingmounted in said framework, a gearing on said casing, and shafts 38provided with blades engaging with said gear, a series of inshafts 4Aand said gear 40 for the purpose set forth.

12. In a propeller, the combination of a main driving shaft, a capcarried thereby, a casing surrounding said shaft, collars surroundingsaid casing, a framework carrying blades supported by said cap and said001- lars, a driving drum on the upper end of said casing, powertransmitters communicating motion from said drum to the outer sets ofblades 54.- on said framework, inclined shafts having blades thereonengaging said casing and supported in said framework, and mechanism forrevolving the casing and driving shaft in opposite directions.

13. In a propeller, the combination with a suitable base, of a collar, amotor containing casing supported by said collar, driving mechanismwithin said casing, flexible power conductors communicating with saiddriving mechanism from without said casing, a driving shaft supported insaid casing and extending therethrough means for driving said shaft, acap at the upper end of said shaft, a tubular casing surrounding saidshaft and positioned intermediate said motor containing casing and saidcap, a framework carrying a plurality of blades supported by saidtubular casing and said cap and means for driving said tubular casing inan opposite direction from the main driving shaft, for the purpose setforth. I

1 1. In a propeller, a blade comprising a substantially U-shaped memberhaving a shank terminating in a right angled member, ribs mounted insaid member and forming therewith a framework, and fabric secured tosaid framework, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR O. GILBERT.

VVitnesses M. L. REID, ADDIE L. BALLOU.

